Archives for July 2016

There is a common belief that a condition known as “adrenal fatigue” can cause stress, insomnia, and the feeling of general subjugation. However, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, adrenal fatigue is not a medically diagnosable condition. Adrenal insufficiency is.

Q: How is adrenal fatigue diagnosed?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are no tests that can determine adrenal fatigue, since it is a theoretical condition.

Q: What is the difference between the idea of adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Adrenal insufficiency is a diagnosable condition, detected via blood test. A person with an adrenal insufficiency may experience constant fatigue, lightheadedness, low blood pressure, unexplained weight loss, nausea and vomiting, intestinal pain, confusion, and dehydration. Adrenal insufficiency is treatable with medicines that replace the hormones typically produced by the adrenal glands.

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Retired pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm spent her entire career focused on women’s health, specifically where hormones are concerned. Here, the Madison, Wisconsin based healthcare entrepreneur answers questions about the chemicals that keep us going.

Q: What are hormones?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands throughout the body. They are responsible for regulating the biological systems that keep us healthy. Hormones affect every system of the body and are vital to normal growth and development.
Q: From where do hormones derive?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are 10 primary hormone producing glands. These are the hypothalamus, parathyroid, thymus, pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, pineal, ovaries, and testes. Each gland controls specific hormones. For instance, the parathyroid gland controls the body’s calcium levels while the testes in men produce testosterone and sperm. The thymus and thyroid control immune system maturity and the body’s ability to burn calories respectively.

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Hormones are like tiny little chemical messengers that travel throughout the bloodstream to tell the organs and tissues exactly what they’re supposed to do. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, hormones affect everything from growth and development to mood and sexual function. Both men and women’s bodies are governed by hormones, which fluctuate with age.

Effect on female development

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that certain hormones are released as the body develops into adulthood. During puberty, hormones are associated with skin and hair changes, mood swings, and the onset of menstruation. Breast tenderness, insomnia, and menstrual cramps are also signs the body’s hormone levels are shifting. Girls typically enter puberty at the end of adolescence, somewhere between 12- and 14-years-old.

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Hormones play a role in every aspect of our lives, says retired pharmacist and healthcare entrepreneur Marla Ahlgrimm. Contrary to popular belief, hormones do not just affect the reproductive system. In today’s brief question and answer session, Ahlgrimm discusses one hormone that may have kept our ancestors alive.

Q: What is adrenaline?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Adrenaline is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands that is released during stressful situations. It is the hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream and sends impulses throughout the body to trigger certain reactions. Adrenaline, which is also called epinephrine, makes a person more alert, less able to feel pain, and able to run long distances even when injured.

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